think that's a very american thing, too, is to invent not only your own country but to invent your own religion you're own spirituality. ♪ you got to help me to take a stand ♪ >> if i say "fire and rain," what's the first thought you have? >> i remember where i was when i wrote the tune. >> where were you? >> whether it first occurred to me. i was in a basement flat in london in the west end. ♪ oh i seen fire and i seen rain ♪ >> and the song just came to me. and then -- >> just came to me? >> uh-huh. i mean you know, songs were -- that was happening frequently to me at that point. and -- >> why was that at that point this was happening to you? >> well, i had a lot of empty time. i had a lot of energy. i had a lot of yearning a lot of unsolved senses of -- i very much wanted to express myself and define myself. >> was that the most fertile period for you ever? >> yeah, yeah it was. i was really busting at the seams to express myself. ♪ i'm going to carolina in my mind ♪ >> where did that song come from? >> i was homesick. i was in london and i was -- i was just thinking about north